What's Dope

How and when did you start skating?
Older people were skating and I thought it looked cool. I was 17-18 at the time.

What kind of board did you start on?
B-52 trucks, blank deck, I don't remember the wheels.

Did you start out skating in the streets or at a skatepark?
A bit of both. I had an outdoor park that was falling apart right where I lived, so I went there a lot.

Who were you skating with at first?
My friends that started skating at the same time as me. The older skaters hated us.

Were there any early influences on your skating? Who did you look up to?
Oh, Pontus Alv, Tom Penny and Andrew Reynolds, for sure.

Do you enjoy skating in contests and demos?
Contests, sometimes. I haven't been to any in a long time now, though. Demos, hm yeah but i suck at em.

How could contests be improved?
Make cooler street courses with more flat ledges and stuff like that, not so many El Toro 20 stairs and 10-flat-10 double sets.

What do you like about being able to make some money from skating? What's not so cool?
Not so cool is that I have to work. He-he! But, I'll manage. I can go to bed late.

What do you think of skate videos these days?
I like them. I mean, I don't really watch skate movies, except for when new ones come out. But, there is a lot of crazy shit going on.

Do you enjoy filming video parts yourself?
Yeah, I love it for sure, when I'm not hurt--which is all the fucking time.

Do you skate vert ramps or bowls?
Ha-ha! I dropped in on vert once. I did a rock fakie, too! Amazing. I only skated one bowl, in Algorta, Spain, but it was fun!

What do you think of the skateparks in Europe?
I haven't really been to that many, so I cant really tell. They are starting to come out good, too--street oriented!

Should skateparks copy real street spots like MACBA or have more trannies?
Nah. Try to be innovative and come up with cool new shit!

What do you like about Emerica?
I love Emerica. It's a big part of my life! 100%.

Which Emerica shoe do you like most? Why?
The Reynolds 2, the Leo and the B.Herman are the ones I skate. They feel good on the feet and are so comfy! Also, all of them look amazing!

Who do you skate with now?
Perus crew! Pirkka Polari, Eero Antilla, Jesse Turonen and all the Perus homies!

Who are your favorite skaters of all time?
Pirkka, for sure.
What have been the highlights of your skateboarding career?
Ali's apartment.

Skateboarding professionally also means a lot of traveling! What does that mean to you?
I'm a professional? Traveling is so sick! I love new spots, new food, new places, man. And when Pontus is on a trip, there is no turning back! He never ends!

What do you enjoy besides skating?
A crazy game of poker, music and just doing nothing.

What are your future goals?
Stay free from injuries. I've been injured for, like, two or three years now, and it kind of sucks! When I manage that, I'm going to skate like crazy, yo!